?Brown skin girl?
?Chapter eleven?
“I need your help, guys.” Ryan said when he met his friends outside the school that morning.
“Oh, hi, Ryan.” Kyle greeted
“Good to see you’re in a Better shape today.” Jack added.
“Can you guys hear me out before she comes to school, please.” Ryan pleaded.
“She who?” Kyle asked confused.
Ryan looked around.
“Something happened yesterday, I sincerely don’t know what came over me. I’m sure I was possessed or something. It was like a magnet I’m certain. I need you guys to help me lie to her… Tell her that throughout yesterday, I was sick and my mom sent someone to fill in for me in school, the Ryan yesterday was not me, he wore a mask of my face…” Ryan explained breathlessly pacing.
“Cool down, guy,.. Who’s the girl we’re talking about here, and what did you do?” Jack interrupted with brows raised.
Ryan raked his fingers in his hair, his eyes searching the distance for any sign of Trisha.
“I kissed her.” He said.
The other two exchanged glances. Jack shrugged.
“Nothing new.” He said.
“The question is who?” Kyle added.
Ryan sighed. “Trisha! I kissed Trisha! I don’t even understand, I…” He blurted out.
“Whoa, hold it, dude…” Kyle cut in. “You mean Trisha? Like our Trisha? Like Trisha the dancer? The girl in the gang? Like the brown skin girl with captivating eyes and full lips? The one with the softest hair? The one we practiced with yesterday?” Kyle asked in a blab.
Ryan’s face fell, looking at him dumbly.
“Is there another Trisha you know?”
“Why? Ryan? Trisha is not a girl to be played. She’s one of us. Our friend. She’s not like other girls.” Jack scolded.
“I know! I was not trying to play her or anything.” Ryan said.
Kyle rose a brow. “You weren’t?”
Ryan nodded tiredly.
Jack and Kyle stared at him for some minutes and his patience was not holding good.
They exchanged glances.
“Jack, are you thinking what I’m thinking.” Kyle asked not tearing his eyes from Ryan.
“I think so… What are you thinking?” Jack said playing along, striking his jaw and looking at Ryan.
“I think somebody’s in love.” Kyle announced.
“Yeah, with the girl he said was not his type.” Jack added.
“The bond was so strong that he didn’t know when he kissed her.” Kyle said again.
“Totally unlike him. Why would he be so worried? He’s kissed a lot before and felt nothing.” Jack said thoughtfully.
“Its probably because, this kiss wasn’t on the lips but one the…” Kyle added.
Ryan had had enough.
“Stop guys! I’m right in front of you.” He reminded. “And this is not the time for that, Trisha will soon be in school. I need you guys to cover up for me.” He said impatiently.
“Why us? Tell her yourself.” Jack said.
“No! I won’t be able to do it.” Ryan snapped.
“Do you even need to lie? You do realize that’s the dumbest lie ever.” Kyle said
Ryan slapped his forehead and continued pacing, trying to figure out a way out of the mess.
“Wow, Ryan, I’ve never seen you in this state. Trisha has been doing things to you for sure.” Jack said watching Ryan
“You have no idea.” Ryan said.
“Why didn’t you tell us about this your newly found feeling? We would have figured out a way to bring you two together.” Kyle said helpfully.
“That’s the damn problem! I am Ryan! I don’t need relationships! I don’t fall for people, people fall for me! I don’t know where all these came from! I have no idea what she did to me.” Ryan complained, burying his fingers in his hair in worry.
“So, what do you want us to do?” Jack asked.
“Lie to her. Change her perspective of what happened yesterday, I don’t want her to go thinking that I love her.”
“But you do.” Kyle said
“I know… I don’t want her to know that.” He said.
They looked at him like he was stupid.
Ryan’s eyes widened as he saw a red car come into view, driving towards the school.
“Damn! She’s here.” He groaned. “What am I going to do?” He asked in panic.
“Don’t panic, bro.. Act natural.” Jack suggested.
“How can you say that? How am I supposed to do that.” Ryan said quickly.
“Just act like nothing happened.” Kyle lightened.
“But something did happen!” Ryan snapped.
They watched her open the car and get off. She spoke to the person inside the car before turning.
“Stop looking at her so it won’t be like we’re talking about her.” Jack said and they tore their gaze from her.
Ryan looked down, inspecting their shoes. He put his hands in his pocket to stop them from shaking. He has never felt that nervous in his life. He was sweating but the morning was a chill. He glanced with the corner of his eyes at her and immediately looked away.
She looked as nervous as he was. Her steps were slow with hesitation and she was coming towards them… Like she did every morning.
“… And that’s what happened.” He heard Kyle say and he realized they had been talking about something different.
Trisha met them.
His heart skipped a bit.
“Hi, guys.” She said with a little wave.
“Hi.” He muttered but Kyle and Jack greeted her like they always did.
He noticed she didn’t even look at him, once.
“I’ll see you guys later.” She told them… Well, just Kyle and Jack. It was unusual because they were always together in school.
Trisha hurriedly left them. She couldn’t stay there. She tried her best not to look at Ryan, aware that he was looking at her. He didn’t say much. She didn’t even know what to think of these things.
She had watched Ryan flirt with the girls in school and he won’t even flinch or feel anything. She wanted to conclude that Ryan just wanted to mess with her head the day before but the way he acted that morning made her rethink.
She went to her locker and opened it. She tried to concentrate but she was failing. She really would use a female friend. Chloe and Ruby. They were still angry at her and hadn’t spoken to her since that day at lunch.
She sighed. She did miss them. She would really use an ear to talk to. She probably didn’t want to talk to Becky because Becky wasn’t helping. All she did was tease and tease.
She sighed. Dragging her attention back to her books.
She heard a knock on her locker and turned it over to see who it was. Her eyes made a preference to look at his shoes than his face.
“Hey.” He said awkwardly.
“Hhi.” She said nervously searching for any ant on the floor. She decided the ant would be found faster in her locker and she turned her attention to her locker… searching for the ant.
Ryan scratched his neck nervously and looked behind him. He caught a glimpse of Kyle and Jack giving him thumbs up a distance away. He looked back at her.
“Errrrr… I… Emm…” He sighed and ran his hand down his face.
“About yesterday… I… I’m… I just… I…” He stuttered stupidly.
“I’m sorry,… I didn’t… I didn’t even know what I was doing… That wasn’t me… I’m sorry… I… I shouldn’t have done that… I…” He stopped and looked at her. She was seriously searching for something in her locker, almost like she wasn’t even listening.
Trisha let out a breath and carried the books she had selected, closing the locker.
She faced him.
“Ryan… Could we just… Forget that it ever happened?” She suggested looking below his face.
The saliva in his mouth dried up.
How could she say that? It wasn’t easy, they both knew that! If it had never happened it would be different.
“Trisha…” He started and scratched the back of his neck., noticing the twists she did with her fingers. She was just as nervous as he was.
Trisha, I don’t want to forget that it ever happened. I want to build on it. That is what I want but its not what I want.
You make me feel things I’ve never felt and I don’t want to feel. You do things to me and you don’t even realize. My heart miss a beat whenever you’re near me. I don’t want these things you do to me but I love them… As much as I love you.
He mentally clapped for his inner voice for such a wonderful speech. And then he cursed it for not being able to speak loud enough for Trisha to hear it.
“Em… Yeah… We can forget about it…” He said, hiding his disappointment.
She gave him a small smile.
“O..k… See you guys later.” She said.
“Yeah. Science lab.” He said.
She nodded and hurried away.
He watched her leave and he noticed a group of girls staring at him and at her, making their usual gossips. He rolled his eyes. As the custom of Botley, rumors will be released soon.
He turned and went back to his friends.
“How’d it go?” Kyle asked.
“Did you tell her?” Jack asked too
“No, guys… Its not easy” Ryan said with a fallen countenance.
Kyle threw his arm around Ryan’s shoulder in a comforting manna. Kyle was a little taller and so the gesture was easy.
“Don’t worry, you’re new in this. We are experts with relationships, we’ll teach you.” He said.
Ryan looked at him with the corner of his eye.
“Kyle… You’re both like me… Players.” He reminded.
“Doesn’t mean we’re not professionals.” Jack said.
“You’ve never been in a relationship!” Ryan said.
“Because, we’ve not yet found love. But you have… And we can handle that.” Jack answered like a wise man he was not.
Ryan rolled his eyes roughly and said nothing.
“So, we are your mentors.” Kyle said proudly. Ryan scoffed.
“Yeah right.” He huffed.
“The very first thing you need to do is… Leave other girls, it’ll make Tris jealous if you don’t.” Jack said.
“Hey! She’s not my girlfriend yet.!” Ryan reminded.
“Yet… I bet she want to be.” Jack said.
Ryan scoffed again. “Don’t exaggerate.”
The bell rang and the students found their ways to their various classes.
“We’ll talk this later, bro. The topic is huger than you think.” Jack said
Trisha opened the door to the science lab and the noise in the lab welcomed her.
The lab was full with the students behind their apparatus of experiment.
She saw Chloe and Ruby first. Then Chloe and Bianca. Then other students. Then Jack and Kyle.
Kyle waved at her.
She gave him a small smile and went over to their table.
“Hey guys.” She greeted
“Whoa, Trisha… I made this blue chemical lose its color by adding this orange stuff.” Jack said dumbly.
“Seriously, Jack? You don’t even know their names?” She said rolling her eyes.
“You know Jack.” Kyle shrugged. “The dumbest in the gang that always gets an A God knows how.”
Trisha giggled as Jack pouted.
“So, can I join you guys?” She said dropping her bag on the table.
“Err… No! I and Jack are partners. Mr Ed said two to a table.” Kyle said.
“Oh.” Trisha exclaimed.
“But Ryan doesn’t have a partner.” Jack directed pointing behind him at Ryan who acted like he didn’t notice her but concentrated on an experiment only him knew.
“Oh.” Trisha said again.
The boys searched her face and saw hesitation.
“Is everything ok with you and Ryan?” Kyle asked knowingly.
“Huh? No… Nothing we’re good.” She said and smiled.
They began to hear quarrels on one side of the lab.
Trisha wanted to ignore it but she heard Chloe’s voice. She made her way to them.
“Where are you going.?” Jack asked
“I’ll be right back.” She said.
She got to the there, some people where chorusing ‘fight! Fight! Fight!’. Mr Ed was not in the lab, he must have gone out.
“Well, at least I don’t sound like an oversize frog!” Ciona fired.
Chloe’s jaw dropped in surprise. Oversized frog? Did she really sound that way?. The students were laughing at the insults and Chloe had lost her tongue.
“… And frogs are green, and that should be your color too.” Ciona mocked and took a beaker from the table behind her and poured the green liquid on Chloe’s face, forcing a gasp from her mouth and a laughter from the crowd.
Trisha was angry to the core.
Mr Ed opened the door.
Trisha ran towards Ciona and pushed her.
Ciona stumbled backwards and fell on a table of scientific apparatus. The beakers and chemicals pouring on her, some glasses breaking on her head.
The students were surprised and they began to take pictures, laughing.
“Jesus! Mother of Mary! What is going on?” Mr Ed yelled, mixing his words.
Low giggles swept through the lab.
Mr Ed looked at the mess and then Ciona. He turned to Trisha and glared.
“I need an explanation miss.” He yelled.
Trisha wasn’t shaken. Ciona deserved all of that and more, for messing with her friend.
“She was being a jerk.” She said glaring at crying Ciona.
“The only jerk in this lab is you, Miss Robbins!” He shouted.
Trisha crossed her arms.
“Thats not such a bad thing if its for a good reason, Mr Ed.” She said and they laughed
Mr Ed’s frown deepened.
“You!” He pointed at her.
“Get out!”
Her hands fell and they was an ‘uhh’ sound from the students.
“You can’t do that! Where am I supposed to go? Its not recess yet. If Principal Hanns see me, its detention.” She reminds in slight panic.
“That’s the idea lady… Go roam around the school during lessons… Thats what jerks do!” He said angrily
Her lips formed a thin line and she went to grab her bag, the rest making way for her.
Kyle and Jack gave her apologetic looks. She didn’t look at Ryan to see the look on his face.
She made her way out of the lab..
“Thats what you get when you poke nose, nosey!” Ciona commented.
Trisha said nothing. She just lifted a middle finger at her and exited the lab.
Trisha slammed the door as hard as she could and took few steps away. She stopped.
Dmn! Principal Hanns will surely find her and she will be on detention.! She groaned.
The best thing for her to do was to show herself to Principal Hanns before she sees her. She’ll report herself.
She walked down through the lonely passage and down the stairs.
She had never been outside during classes before and it was creepy.
She got to the bottom of the stairs and walked in the empty hallway, to the stairs on the other side.
She began to go up the stairs. Cursing Mr Ed in her mind for kicking her out of the class.
She climbed unto the flat and made her way to Mrs Hann’s office.
She past an abandoned office on a side on the hallway… She heard some people talking.. But well, none of her business.
“… Why is it so hard to kill him? That’s why they kept us in his school because he’s with no bodyguard here.”
Trisha’s ears perked up and her eyes widened. She turned back and tiptoed to the room. She flattened herself on the wall next to the slightly opened door and began to listen.
“We have to make this work! The meeting will hold by next week. We can’t go without our work done.” A female voice said.
“Its not our fault.! The ones in the prime minister’s house are not any better.” A male defended.
“Why can’t we just kill him! Like shoot him from a distance or stuff?” Another voice said. Trisha recognized it to be that of the janitor.
“If we do that, we’re putting the school in high risk of suspicion. We want it to look natural.” The lady said again. Trisha couldn’t recognize the voice of the lady and so she tried to peak.
The janitor scoffed. “I need sharp work. We know how far naturality has taken us.” He said sarcastically.
“So what do you suggest we do?” The other man asked.
“We don’t have much time… He goes home late because of his dance practice with his stupid friends and his girlfriend.” The janitor huffed.
Trisha almost said it out loud that she was not his girlfriend.
“Yeah… That girl… She’s a threat.” The lady said.
Trisha’s heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened.
“She saved him from the poison dart I shot at him that other day.” The lady said.
“Yeah. And I bet she fought with him and broke his own cup of coffee that day in Mrs Hanns’ office.” The janitor agreed.
“So, we’ll have to kill her too.” The other man said carelessly.
Trisha clamped her hand over her mouth to stop the gasp that almost escaped.
“No… We don’t have to kill her, she’s not part of the job.” The lady said.
“…but if she interrupts again, we’ll drag her into the job.” The janitor said dreadfully.
Trisha’s could swear that they could hear her heart beat because it was so loud. She had to get out of there,. If they caught her, she’d be dead.
Frozen he..ll!
She began to hear footsteps hitting the stairs, coming up. She looked around for where to hide.
The only place available was Principal Hanns’ office.
She quickly but quietly went to the door and turned the handle. It was unlock.
She impatiently looked in
“Mrs Hanns?” She called in a whisper. No answer. It was empty.
She slipped inside and shot the door behind her.
What was she going to do? If Mrs Hanns caught her in her office, she would be in trouble.
She heard the footstep tap on the hallway outside, coming towards the office.
Trisha’s eyes widened. She looked around and rushed to the window. She looked out. That was a death trap.
The footsteps stopped at the door.
This was a suicide mission.
The doorknob was pushed down.
Trisha gasped
The door flung open and Principal Hanns came in looking tired.
“This is so stressful. Students just enjoy breaking laws.” She commented and her eyes widened looking at the direction of the window.
She walked towards it in surprise.
“Oh my! I thought I closed this window.” She said and shut it.
Trisha let out a huge sigh of relief. She looked at the journey to get down.
She was standing on a block that poked out of the wall. There were many blocks of the sort, it was the design.
She carefully placed her foot on a lower block, holding two other block with her hand for support.
Dmn! If she missed any step, she would fall. And that’s not a thought to breed on.
She held her heart in her throat as she carefully climbed down, trying her best not to look down.
At last she got on top of the entrance of Botley and she guided her feet to rest on the curve.
She climbed down with a jump. She felt a sharp pain in her knee and she groaned.
She considered running back inside and going to tell Principal Hanns of what she heard but she decided against it.
She wasn’t scared, just shock. She didn’t think that they would notice her closeness to Ryan and try to eliminate her. She shrugged. They won’t be able to do that easily.
She walked to the water fountain and sat by it.
She had to tell Becky of the information she heard. She would be so proud of her.
“Dmn!” Becky yelled.
Trisha sat on the cushion at home, confused at her outburst.
“Why? Its good news, at least we know a huge clue.” Trisha said
“And they know you… Trisha, you’ll have to abort the mission.” Becky said pacing.
“What?” Trisha shouted
“You heard me! You heard them yourself. It’s dangerous!” Becky said, looking at Trisha.
“Its been dangerous since the beginning. What’s the difference now?” Trisha whined.
“Don’t you even get scared? Whatsoever organization they are working for are bad guys. They don’t care about the life of a 17 year old who try to interrupt their plans.” Becky said crossing her arms.
“Don’t worry, Becky. They won’t get me so easy. And besides, if I stop, what are you going to do about Ryan?” Trisha asked crossing her arms too.
“I’ll figure something out. I can’t let you continue, I’ll watch him myself.” Becky said.
Trisha groaned.
“Becky… This is going to be hotter than before., They want him dead before the end of this week so they could present a good news to their stupid meeting.” Trisha protested.
“Trisha. Drop it!” Becky snapped.
Trisha’s lips formed a thin line.
“Like you’ll know if I don’t.” She remarked.
Becky sighed
“Trisha, I’m being serious!” Becky said strictly.
Trisha rolled her eyes. “Ok ok.” She said sarcastically.
Becky sighed again and went to her wine bar.
“You do realize your dad will be back tomorrow?” She asked. Pouring herself some wine.
“Uh-huh.” Trisha muttered, busy with her phone.
“So, you’ll have to be careful not to tell him about any of this.”
Trisha scoffed. “Yeah right! I told him last week… I told him how cool you were amd that you worked for the MI7 and that I’m currently in a mission… What?” She asked noticing the look on Becky’s face.
“Trisha… Tell me you’re joking!” She said calmly, walking towards her.
“Don’t worry… He was totally cool about it.” Trisha said carelessly.
Becky didn’t know what to do. She grabbed her hair in her hands.
“Arrrrrrrgh!” She yelled, startling Trisha.
“What is wrong with you? Why the fk did you tell him? I told you not to!”
“You did? But he’s my dad. I’m sure he won’t mind. What’s the worse that could happen?” Trisha said looking at Becky.
“Go to your room, Trisha!” Damian yelled, his eyes not tearing away from Becky, who stood few feets away, wearing an emotionless expression.
Trisha had tears in her eyes, that she didn’t want to let down.
She stood at the foot of the stairs, watching Damian and Becky argue because of her. She wished she never told Damian about it and now, her dad was so angry that he called Becky to the house that morning to explain
“Dad… I’m fine.” Trisha assured.
Damian turned to her abruptly.
“Don’t even say that to me! You could have been hurt, Trisha! Why on earth did you agree to this? Don’t you know dance when you see it?”
“Don’t blame her… Face me! Its my fault.” Becky defended coldly.
“Of course it’s your fault Becky!” Damian said facing Becky. “I left my daughter in your custody for a few weeks and what do you do? Turn her into a spy!”
“Why do you make it sound so dangerous?” Becky snapped.
“Because you and I know how dangerous it is!” Damian shouted.
The raised voices was making Trisha’s head hot.
“Could you guys please stop?” She whimpered.
“Go to your room, Trisha!” Damian yelled again.
“No I won’t until you both stop shouting at each other. You’ve been at this for two hours now!” She cried.
“That’s true and you should be in school!” Becky said.
“I’m not going when i know that you two are having a fight.”
“Oh, you wanna see how it ends?” Damian asked and turned back to Becky.
“Its over!” He announced. “I want to marry someone who will care for my daughter like her mother did and not someone who would make my daughter do her dirty work for her.” He said.
Trisha gasped.
An emotion flashed in Becky’s eyes but disappeared as quickly.
“I had a nice time with you, Damian. But what’s a marriage without trust?” She said and walked towards the door.
“Becky!” Damian called and she looked back at him.
“Stay away from my daughter!” He said. She gave a slight nod and went out.
She slammed the door behind her.
Trisha felt the tears escape her eyes as she didn’t want to believe the scene she had just witnessed.
“Dad…” She called softly.
He didn’t look at her. He cleaned his eyes and she realized that he too was crying.
She sobbed.
“Go get ready for school, Peanut!” He said.
The tears in Trisha’s eyes fell like waterfall. She stared at his back, like her stare could change his mind.
She ran up the stares and Damian heard the slam of her room’s door. He broke down too.
Trisha threw herself on her bed and hugged her pillow, washing the pillow with her tears.
She was so stupid!
This is all her fault!
How could she be so childish! Telling her dad about Becky. And now, they had broken up, because of her.
She cried harder.
She had come to love Becky. She didn’t want to lose her. Becky was family!
She woke up that morning by their arguments. It was already past 9. The argument was one she wished she never witnessed.
She had never seen Damian so angry.
Well, she had seen Becky so emotionless before. But she was sure Becky tried to hide her feelings by looking so expressionless.
This was all her fault!
She had to figure out a way to make things right.
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